Component fixing structure

ABSTRACT

A component fixing structure attaches and fixes a component to a support member. At least one protruding member is provided to one of the component and the support member. A hole is provided to the other of the component and the support member so as to receive the protruding member. A sheet material is applied to the other of the component and the support member so as to cover an area where the hole is provided. A part of the sheet material is inserted into the hole by the sheet material being deformed by being pressed by the protruding member when inserting the protruding member into the hole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-303529, filed on Nov. 22, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The embodiment discussed herein is directed to a structure for fixing a component of an apparatus to a support part.

BACKGROUND

In order to facilitate incorporation of an apparatus such as, for example, an optical disc drive apparatus into an information processing equipment such as a personal computer, there are many cases where the apparatus is unitized. It is general to incorporate such a unit into an information processing apparatus by attaching the unit to a bracket so that the unit is incorporated into the information processing apparatus together with the bracket. That is, the unit is attached to the information processing apparatus via the bracket.

The bracket is generally formed of a thin metal plate, and screw holes may be formed in the bracket so as to attach the unit to the bracket using the screw holes. When attaching the unit to the bracket, screws are screwed into the respective screw holes and fastened.

Here, if, for example, the unit is an optional component and is not needed to be attached to the information processing apparatus, a dummy of the unit is incorporated into the information processing apparatus instead of the true unit. Generally, such a dummy unit is a body formed by a metal plate to copy the shape of the unit so that the dummy unit covers and fills a space into which the true unit, if needed, is incorporated. Accordingly, the dummy unit is much lighter than the true unit, and there is no need to be firmly fixed to the bracket by using screws.

Thus, there are many cases where the dummy unit it attached to the bracket by merely inserting pins, which are provided to the dummy unit at positions corresponding to the screw holes of the bracket, into the screw holes of the bracket. In such a case, a screw fastening operation to fix the dummy unit to the bracket is not necessarily performed, which simplifies the assembly process.

However, there is a problem in that the dummy unit may vibrate and generate an abnormal noise due to a vibration generated by an operation of the apparatus according to the fixing structure in which the pins of the dummy unit are merely inserted into the screw holes of the bracket. That is, because an outer diameter of each pin is made smaller than an inner diameter of each screw hole so that pins can be inserted into the respective screw holes, and, additionally, the outer diameter of each pin may be made further smaller than the inner diameter of each screw hole in consideration of variation in a location of each pin, there is a play between each pin and the corresponding screw hole and the pins move in the respective screw holes, thereby generating a rattling noise due to the pins hitting inner surfaces of the screw holes.

Moreover, there may be a case where the assembly process is simplified by making the fixing structure of the true unit to be the same as the fixing structure of the dummy unit. In such a case, the true unit may vibrate similar to the dummy unit, which may give a bad influence to the performance of the true unit.

As a method of attaching a component to prevent a play of the attached component, there is a method of applying the component to a support member using a pressure sensitive adhesive. According to this method, a component is attached to the support member by, for example, a pressure sensitive adhesive double-coated tape. However, there may be a problem in that the problem of vibration also occurs when an adhesion force of the pressure sensitive adhesive double-coated tape is weakened due to aging of the pressure sensitive adhesive.

Alternatively, there is suggested a method of absorbing vibrations by providing a vibration isolation damper between the component and the support member. However, there may be a problem in that such a vibration isolation damper is expensive as compared to the above-mentioned pressure sensitive adhesive double-coated tape and a space for providing the vibration isolation damper is needed. Additionally, if the vibration isolation damper is used to attach the true unit to the support member, the performance of the true unit may be decreased due to the frequency characteristic of the vibration isolation damper.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-83936 suggests a method of fixing a plate-like member by sandwiching the plate-like member by using a grommet, as a component fixing structure for attaching the plate-like member to a separate support member without using screws. According to this attaching method, the grommet having elasticity is inserted into though holes formed in the plate-like member and the support member, and, thereby, the plate-like member can be attached to the support member without a play.

According to the above-mentioned component fixing method using the grommet, it is needed to prepare the grommet as a component separate from the plate-like member to which the grommet is attached, which results in an increase in the number of components and a manufacturing cost. Additionally, a jig for deforming the grommet when attaching to the plate-like member is needed. Further, it is needed to perform a process of attaching the grommet by deforming the grommet using the jig, which results in an increase in the assembly process.

SUMMARY

A component fixing structure for attaching and fixing a component to a support member, including: at least one protruding member provided to one of the component and the support member; a hole provided to the other of the component and the support member so as to receive the protruding member; and a sheet material applied to the other of the component and the support member so as to cover an area where the hole is provided, wherein a part of the sheet material is inserted into the hole by the sheet material being deformed by being pressed by the protruding member when inserting the protruding member into the hole.

Additional objects and advantages of the embodiment will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The object and advantages of the embodiment will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a personal computer having a component fixing structure according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the personal computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the personal computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the personal computer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an intermediate state of assembling a bracket to a main body;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bracket;

FIG. 7A is a plan view of the bracket having a slide part being pulled out of a stationary part;

FIG. 7B is a plan view of the bracket having the slide part being pushed into the stationary part;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a dummy and the bracket when attaching the dummy to the bracket;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the dummy and the bracket after attaching the dummy to the bracket;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a vicinity of an upright piece before a pin is inserted into a hole;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the pin is inserted into the hole;

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the pin and the hole before inserting the pin into the hole;

FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the pin and the hole after the pin is inserted into the hole;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a dummy having a sheet material applied thereto;

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a part of the dummy before applying the sheet material;

FIG. 14B is a perspective view of the part of the dummy after the sheet material is applied;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the dummy is attached to the bracket;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet material being broken by the pin;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet material being broken by the pin when the pin is deflected in the hole; and

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a deformation of the sheet material having elasticity.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a personal computer having a component fixing structure according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the personal computer illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the personal computer illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the personal computer illustrate in FIG. 1.

The personal computer 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is an example of an information processing equipment. The personal computer 10 includes a main body 12 and a display screen 14 provided on a front face of the main body 12. An opening 16 a is provided to a side cover 16 of the main body 12 of the personal computer 10 as illustrated in FIG. 4 so as to incorporate an information storage device, such as, for example, an optical disc drive unit or a flexible disk drive unit, into the main body 12. There is a case where the information storage device such as an optical disc drive unit or a flexible disk drive unit is an optional component. Thus, if the information storage device is not incorporated into the main body 12 of the personal computer 10, a dummy 18 is incorporated into the main body 12 so as to close the opening 16 a as illustrated in FIG. 4. Specifically, the opening 16 a is closed in the same manner as the case where the information storage device such as an optical disc drive unit or a flexible disk drive unit is incorporated into the main body 12 by arranging a front plate 18 a in the opening 16 a. The information storage device incorporated as an optional component is unitized so as to be made into a single unit. Hereinafter, the information storage device may be simply referred to as a unit or a true unit. The information storage device is mere an example of an optional component of the personal computer 1, and other devices such as an information processing device including a communication device, an interface device, etc., may be used as an optional component.

The dummy 18 is a component formed by a metal plate by copying a shape of a unit to be incorporated into the main body 12. When incorporating the unit into the main body 12, the unit is first attached to a bracket 20, which is a support member for supporting the unit, and, then, the bracket 20 is incorporated into the main body 12 and fixed. That is, the unit is incorporated into the main body and fixed via the bracket 20. The bracket 20 is configured so that a plurality of kinds of units can be attached. That is, different kinds of units can be incorporated into the main body 20 via the same bracket 20.

Therefore, when incorporating the dummy 18 into the main body 20, the dummy 18 (component) is attached to the bracket 20 (support member), and, then, the bracket 20 is incorporated into the main body 12 and the bracket 20 is fixed to the main body by fastening by screws as illustrated in FIG. 5. The bracket 20 is a structural body formed by a metal plate as illustrated in FIG. 6. The bracket 20 comprises a stationary part 22 and a slide part 24, which is a movable part, movable relative to the stationary part 22. FIGS. 7A and 7B are plan views of the bracket 20 illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 7A illustrates a state were the slide part 24 is drawn from the stationary part 22. FIG. 7B illustrates a state where the slide part 24 is pushed into the stationary part 22.

The slide part 24 has two upright pieces 24 a, which are movable relative to the stationary part 22 with a movement of the slide part 24. A pin 24 b, which is a protruding member, is fixed to each of the upright pieces 24 a. The pins 24 b are provided to the respective upright pieces 24 a to protrude perpendicularly to the upright pieces 24 a. Accordingly, the protruding direction of the pins 24 b is coincident with a moving direction of the slide part 24. Additionally, two pins 22 b are attached to a rear plate 22 a of the stationary part 22, and the protruding direction of the pins 22 b is also coincident with the moving direction of the slide part 24.

The dummy 18 is attached to the bracket 20 having the above-mentioned structure. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the dummy 18 and the bracket 20 at the time of attaching the dummy 18 to the bracket 20. Holes 18 c are provided to the side plates 18 b of the dummy 18 at positions corresponding to the pins 22 b and 24 b of the bracket 20. The holes 18 c are through holes formed by burring a metal plate. Each hole 18 c has an inner diameter to receive the respective pins 22 b and 24 b. The holes 18 c are not limited to be formed by burring, and, for example, the holes 18 may be formed by drilling. Additionally, the holes 18 c are not required to be through holes if the holes 18 c can completely receive the pins 22 b and 24 b.

After the dummy 18 is placed on the bracket 20, the slide part 24 of the bracket 20 is pushed toward the stationary part 22, and the dummy 18 is attached to the bracket 20 as illustrated in FIG. 9. When attaching the dummy 18 to the bracket 20, the upright pieces 24 a are moved toward the dummy with the movement of the slide part 24. Thus, the pins 24 b protruding form the upright pieces 24 a are inserted into the respective holes 18 c provided in the side plate 18 b of the dummy 18. Simultaneously, the pins 22 b provided to the rear plate 22 a of the stationary part 22 of the bracket 20 are also inserted into the respective holes 18 c provided in the side plate 18 b of the dummy 18. Accordingly, the dummy 18 is sandwiched between the upright pieces 24 a of the bracket 20 and the rear plate 22 b of the bracket 20, and the pins 22 b and 24 b of the bracket 20 are inserted into the holes 18 c of the dummy 18, respectively. Thereby, the dummy 18 is attached and fixed to the bracket 20.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the vicinity of the upright piece 24 a before the pin 24 a is inserted into the respective hole 18 c. When the dummy 18 is placed on the bracket 20, the pins 24 b of the upright pieces 24 a align with the respective holes 18 provided in the slide part 24 of the bracket 20. Accordingly, the pins 24 b are inserted into the holes 18 c, respectively, by moving the slide part 24 toward the dummy 18. Simultaneously, the pins 22 b are inserted into the holes 18 c provided to the side plate 18 b on the opposite side of the dummy 18.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the pin 24 b is inserted into the hole 18 c. As illustrated in FIG. 11, a gap G1 is formed between the upright piece 24 a and the side plate 18 b of the dummy 18, and a gap G2 is formed between the pin 24 b and the inner surface of the hole 18 c. The gap G1 is formed due to a dimensional tolerance of machining. The gap G2 is formed due to the outer diameter of each of the pins 22 b and 24 b being set smaller than the inner diameter of each of the holes 18 c so that the pins 22 b and 24 b can be inserted into the holes, respectively, and also due to the inner diameter of each of the holes 18 being set larger than the outer diameter of each of the pins 22 b and 24 b so as to absorb a difference between a distance between the two pins 22 b or two pins 24 b and a distance between the two holes 18. Because of the gaps G1 and G2, a play is formed between the dummy 18 and the bracket 20, which allows a vibration of the dummy 18, thereby generating an abnormal noise such as a rattling noise.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the formation of the play is prevented by providing a sheet material to the gaps G1 and G2. The sheet material can be a tape, which can be broken easily, with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to one side of the tape. As illustrated in FIG. 12A, a sheet material 30 is applied onto the side plate 18 b of the dummy 18 so as to cover the hole 18 c so that the pin 24 b (or 22 b) brakes into the sheet material when inserting the pin 24 b (or 22 b) into the hole 18 c. When the pin 24 b (or 22 b) breaks into the sheet material 30, the broken part of the sheet material 30 enters the hole 18 c and fills the gap G2 as illustrated in FIG. 12B. The gap G1 is also filled by the sheet material 30 applied to the side plate 18 of the dummy 218.

A tape or a sheet having a hardness or strength with which the pin 24 b (or 22 b) can easily break into the sheet material 30 is used as a sheet material 30. It is preferable to use as the sheet material a cloth tape made of a woven fabric such as an acetate cloth tape or a cotton tape with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto. Alternatively, a plastic tape made of a plastic film such as a vinyl tape with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto may be used. Further, a rubber tape made of a rubber sheet with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied there thereto as mentioned later may be used. The function necessary for the sheet material 30 is to be attachable to a surface of the dummy 18 and breakable by pricking by the pin 24 b (or 22 b), and the sheet material 30 is not limited to the above-mentioned materials if such a function can be provided.

In the present embodiment, the sheet material 30 is applied to areas of the side plates 18 b of the dummy 18 where the holes 18 c are provided so as to completely cover the holes 18 c. The dummy 18 of FIG. 13 is illustrated as a state where the dummy 18 is tuned over. FIG. 14A is an enlarged perspective view of the area where the hole 18 c is provided to the dummy 18 before applying the sheet material 30. FIG. 14B is an enlarged perspective view of the area where the hole 18 c is provided to the dummy 18 after the sheet material 30 is applied. Because the hole 18 c is provided to a position close to a backside 18 d, the sheet material 30 is applied over an area from the side plate 18 b to the backside 18 d. However, if the sheet material 30 can be applied appropriately, the sheet material is not necessarily applied to the backside 18 d.

After the sheet member 30 is applied to cover each hole 18 c of the dummy 18, the dummy 18 is placed on the bracket 20 and the slide part 24 is moved so as to cause the upright pieces 24 a to move toward the slide plate 18 b of the dummy 18. Thereby, the pins 24 b of the upright pieces 24 a and the pins 22 b on the opposite side are brought into contact with the sheet material 30. Then, by moving the slide part 24 further, the pins 24 b and the pins 22 b break into the sheet material 30 and enters the respective holes 18 c. The broken portion of the sheet material 30 enters a space between the inner surface of each hole 18 c and the outer surface of each of the pins 24 b and 22 b. FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the dummy 18 attached to the bracket 20 as mentioned above. In the state illustrated in FIG. 15, each pin 24 b (22 b) is inserted into the respective hole 18 c, and a portion of the sheet material 30 enters between each pin 24 b (22 b) and the inner surface of the respective hole 18 as illustrated in FIG. 12B.

The gap G2 illustrated in FIG. 11 is filled by the sheet material 30 entering between each pin 24 b (22 b) and the inner surface of the respective hole 18 c, and the gap G1 illustrated in FIG. 11 is also filled by the sheet material 30 provided between the dummy 18 and the bracket 20. Thus, a play of the dummy 18 is eliminated, and the dummy 18 is fixed to the bracket 20. Thereby, the dummy 18 does not vibrate even if the bracket vibrates, and there is no abnormal noise generated due to the vibration.

Even if a portion of the sheet material 30 is not completely inserted into a space between each pin 24 b (22 b) and the inner surface of the respective hole 18 c, there is the effect of suppressing a play by the portion of the sheet material entering the space slightly as illustrated in FIG. 16. Additionally, even if the pin 24 b (22 b) is deflected in the hole 18 c, causing the sheet material 30 to extend on one side of the pin 24 b (22 b) is enough to eliminate a play.

Further, when a rubber sheet having elasticity is used as the sheet material 30, the sheet material 30 may be deformed to cover the pin 24 b (22 b) without breaking into the sheet material 30. Thus, the sheet material 30 covering the pin 24 b (22 b) enters between the pin 24 b (22 b) and the inner surface of the hole 18 c, thereby preventing a play of the dummy 18.

As mentioned above, according to the present embodiment, the sheet material 30 is pressed by each pin 24 b (22 b) (protruding member) attached to the bracket 20 (support member) and deforms when each pin 24 b (22 b) is inserted into the respective hole 18 c of the dummy 18 (component), and, thereby, a potion of the sheet material 30 is sandwiched between each pin 24 b (22 b) and the inner surface of the respective hole 18 c. Thus, each pin 24 b (22 b) is fixed and cannot move within the respective hole 18 c, thereby achieving the fixation without a play. That is, according to the present embodiment, the fixation without a play can be performed by providing a simple structure in which mere the sheet material 30 is applied to the dummy 18 (component) so as to cover the holes 18 c of the dummy 18.

Although the holes 18 c are provided to the dummy 18 and the pins 24 b and 22 b are provided to the bracket 20 in the above-mentioned embodiment, pins and holes may be reversed so that pins are provided to the dummy 18 and corresponding holes are provided to the bracket 20. That is, pins may be provided to one of the dummy 18 and the bracket 20 and the holes corresponding to the pins may be provided to the other of the dummy 18 and the bracket 20.

Moreover, although the pins 24 b and the pins 22 b are provided to the upright pieces 24 a and the rear plate 22 a, respectively, and the sheet material 30 is applied to the area corresponding to each of the pins 24 b and 22 b in the above-mentioned embodiment, the sheet material 30 is not always needed to be provided to all of the holes 18 c. For example, there may be a sufficient effect of suppressing a play if the sheet material 30 is applied to the areas of the holes 18 c corresponding to the pins 24 b provided to the two upright pieces 24 a of the bracket 20 and the sheet material 30 is not applied in the areas of the holes 18 c corresponding to the two pins 22 b provided to the rear plate 22 a. In such a case, the number of sheet material 30 is reduced and the number of assembly processes can also be reduced.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed a being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relates to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment(s) of the present invention (s) has (have) been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A component fixing structure for attaching and fixing a component to a support member, comprising: at least one protruding member provided to one of said component and said support member; a hole provided to the other of said component and said support member so as to receive said protruding member; and a sheet material applied to said the other of said component and said support member so as to cover an area where said hole is provided, wherein a part of said sheet material is inserted into said hole by said sheet material being deformed by being pressed by said protruding member when inserting said protruding member into said hole.
 2. The component fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein said part of said sheet material is inserted into said hole by said protruding member breaking into said sheet material when inserting said protruding member into said hole.
 3. The component fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein said component and said support member are structural body formed by a metal plate, said protruding member is a metal made pin attached to said component, and said hole is formed by burring said metal plate forming said support member.
 4. The component fixing structure according to claim 3, wherein said support member comprises a stationary part and a movable part movable relative to said stationary part, and a protruding direction of said metal made pin is coincident with a moving direction of said movable part.
 5. The component fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein said sheet material is a cloth tape formed by a cloth and a pressure sensitive adhesive applied on said cloth.
 6. The component fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein said sheet material is a plastic tape formed by a plastic sheet and a pressure sensitive adhesive applied on said plastic sheet.
 7. The component fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein said sheet material is a rubber tape formed by a rubber sheet and a pressure sensitive adhesive applied on said rubber sheet.
 8. An electronic equipment comprising: an electronic part as a component; a support member to which said electronic part is attached; and a component fixing structure for attaching and fixing said electronic part to said support member, wherein said component fixing structure comprises: at least one protruding member provided to one of said component and said support member; a hole provided to the other of said component and said support member so as to receive the protruding member; and a sheet material applied to said the other of said component and said support member so as to cover an area where said hole is provided, wherein a part of said sheet material is inserted into said hole by said sheet material being deformed by being pressed by said protruding member when inserting said protruding member into said hole.
 9. The electronic equipment according to claim 8, wherein said part of said sheet material is inserted into said hole by said protruding member breaking into said sheet material when inserting said protruding member into said hole.
 10. The electronic equipment according to claim 8, wherein said component and said support member are structural body formed by a metal plate, said protruding member is a metal made pin attached to said component, and said hole is formed by burring said metal plate forming said support member.
 11. The electronic equipment according to claim 10, wherein said support member comprises a stationary part and a movable part movable relative to said stationary part, and a protruding direction of said metal made pin is coincident with a moving direction of said movable part. 